Ratepayers’ cash

Storing water in times of plenty for use when it is scarce is a sound idea. The submission process that starts March 18 in CHB is not about water storage, it is about a quarter of a million dollar gift of ratepayers’ money to a privately owned limited liability company.

To facilitate this extraordinary move the CHB District Council will have to change its own rules. Currently only interest can be used from this account but this gift will require depleting the principle.

The council will have no representation on the company and therefore no direct oversight. The company, Water Holdings CHB Limited, is not subject to the Official Information Act so its business dealings will not be open to public scrutiny. The purpose of this non-repayable loan is to facilitate another quarter million dollars of taxpayer money from the Provincial Growth Fund. The lack of transparency and having the CHB District Council as investor and regulator is worrying.

By all means Water Holdings CHB Ltd can investigate the commercialisation of the intellectual property they own to turn a profit but they should do it with their own money, not ratepayers’.

Clint Deckard Ashley Clinton

CHB District Council responds:

It is encouraging to see the appetite for discussion created by the announcement of council releasing its 2019/20 Annual Consultation document for consultation. Consultation formally opens on March 18 and Council strongly encourages local residents to provide feedback and have their voice heard on this proposal. One of the four changes from the Long Term Plan 2018-28 is a proposal to provide a suspensory loan of $250,000 from the Rural Ward Funds to Water Holdings CHB Ltd to enable them to work collaboratively with partners to identify water security options.

The sum is not a gift, and being a suspensory loan will require Water Holdings CHB Ltd to meet strict criteria to be eligible, ensuring the public’s interest is safeguarded. CHB District Council is being transparent by bringing this proposal to the public’s attention before the consultation period. This proposal is up for discussion and for the community to feed back their thoughts during the consultation period.

A copy of the Annual Plan Consultation Document will be included in the CHB Mail on March 19 and there will be opportunities for the community to make written submission and to meet with Councillors and staff on the proposals.